Ultra-low-power millimeter-wave to baseband receiver module for scalable massive MIMO

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a first radio module at a first location, a wireless MIMO signal, to obtain a first received RF signal. The wireless MIMO signal includes information originating at a remote MIMO transmitter and conveyed via a wireless channel. An envelope of the first received RF signal is detected by the first radio module without requiring a local oscillator, to obtain a first baseband signal. The first baseband signal may be filtered and/or amplified, after which it is compared to a reference value to obtain a first digital signal that is provided to a digital processor. The digital processor also obtains a second digital signal from a second radio module receiving the wireless MIMO signal at a second location and determines an estimate of the information originating at the remote MIMO transmitter according to the first and second digital signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS

This invention was made with government support under ECCS1731056awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government has certainrights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to an ultra-low-power millimeter-wave tobaseband receiver module for scalable massive MIMO.

BACKGROUND

The development of new wireless communications technologies has alwaysbeen driven by the desire for higher data rates. In the case ofcommercial cellular, the rapid increase in the number of end-users ofthe past couple of decades demand a wireless communications solutionthat has low latency and high instantaneous data rate in a complicatedphysical environment with an unknown (a priori) number of users withunknown locations. One solution to increase data rates is to move tohigher carrier frequencies (K-band and above), where traditionalnarrowband design leads to high absolute operating bandwidth. However,this move is not without cost: 5G NR marks a paradigm shift fromomnidirectional to directive communications as higher-gain antennas arerequired to maintain a constant-power link as the carrier frequencyincreases. The requirement of high gain is a consequence of the Friisequation, which states that, for given antenna gain on transmit andreceive, the receive power is inversely proportional to the square ofthe operating frequency. The current solution to thisspatially-multiplexed paradigm is the phased array.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary, non-limitingembodiment of a communications network in accordance with variousaspects described herein.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a MIMO communication system functioning within thecommunication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a MIMO radio functioning within the communication networkof FIG. 1 and the MIMO communication system of FIG. 2A in accordancewith various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a MIMO radio module functioning within the communicationnetwork of FIG. 1 and the MIMO communication system of FIG. 2A inaccordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2D is planar view of an example, non-limiting embodiment of a MIMOradio module functioning within the communication network of FIG. 1 andthe MIMO communication system of FIG. 2A in accordance with variousaspects described herein.

FIG. 2E depicts an illustrative embodiment of a MIMO communicationprocess in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a virtualized communication network in accordance withvarious aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of amobile network platform in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with various aspects describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for wireless communications systems in general, and tonext-generation wireless communications systems with high-dimensional,low-resolution architectures for power-efficient wireless communicationsin particular. Other embodiments are described in the subjectdisclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a receiver devicethat includes an antenna element comprising an antenna terminal, whereinthe antenna element is adapted to provide a received radio frequency(RF) signal at the antenna terminal responsive to illumination of theantenna element by a spatially diverse RF signal transmitted from amultiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmitter operating within amillimeter wave spectrum, wherein a baseband signal is impressed uponthe spatially diverse RF signal by the MIMO transmitter according toamplitude modulation; A non-linear energy detector is communicativelycoupled to the antenna terminal, wherein the non-linear energy detectoris adapted to detect the baseband signal directly from the received RFsignal without using a local oscillator, and an analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC) communicatively coupled to the antenna terminal, whereinthe ADC is adapted to generate a digital signal according to thedetected baseband signal. In at least some embodiments, the receiverdevice includes a baseband analog chain that may apply signalconditioning adapted to, e.g., amplify and/or filter and/or attenuatethe detected baseband signal.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a MIMO receiverthat includes multiple radio modules, each adapted to provide arespective 1-bit output signal responsive to a wireless MIMO signalreceived by the multiple radio modules via a wireless channel. Eachradio module of the multiple radio modules includes a respective antennaelement that includes a respective antenna terminal. The respectiveantenna element is adapted to provide a respective received RF signal atthe respective antenna terminal responsive to the wireless MIMO signalreceived via the wireless channel. Each radio module also includes arespective envelope detector communicatively coupled to the respectiveantenna terminal. The respective envelope detector is adapted to detectinformation modulated onto the wireless MIMO signal prior totransmission via the wireless channel, to obtain a respective detectedbaseband signal. Each radio module further includes a respectiveanalog-to-digital converter (ADC) communicatively coupled to therespective envelope detector. The respective ADC is adapted to generatea respective digital signal according to the respective detectedbaseband signal. The MIMO receiver also includes a digital processorcommunicatively coupled to the multiple radio modules and adapted todetermine an estimate of the information modulated onto the wirelessMIMO signal prior to transmission according to the respective digitalsignal of each of the plurality of radio modules. In at least someembodiments, the receiver device includes a baseband analog chain thatmay amplify and/or filter the detected baseband signal.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a process thatincludes receiving, by a first radio module and at a first location, awireless MIMO signal, to obtain a first received radio frequency (RF)signal. The wireless MIMO signal includes information originating at aremote MIMO transmitter and conveyed to the first radio module via awireless channel. An envelope of the first received RF signal isdetected by the first radio module and without requiring a localoscillator, to obtain a first detected baseband signal. The firstdetected baseband signal is compared, by the first radio module, to areference value to obtain a first digital signal according to the firstdetected baseband signal. The first digital signal is provided, by thefirst radio module, to a digital processor that also obtains a seconddigital signal from a second radio module also receiving the wirelessMIMO signal at a second location. The digital processor determines anestimate of the information originating at the remote MIMO transmitteraccording to the first and second digital signals.

High-resolution, high peak-to-average-power communication modulationformats such as OFDM (LTE) require both the base station (BS) and userequipment (BE) to maintain a high degree of linearity. This linearityrequirement limits the efficiency and indirectly the maximum practicalpower output of the transmitter and requires the use of mixing circuitswith high power local oscillators on both transmit and receive.Linearity in gain stages and low noise amplifiers is also paramount.This ultimately results in a system with inefficient amplification andhigh-power requirements. In a massive MIMO deployment scenario, thepower consumption of the transceiver system scales roughly linearly withthe number of transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) elements, which can proveimpractical for systems employing high peak-to-average power ratiomodulations requiring traditional highly-linear design. This downside isfurther compounded in the phased array system, which employshigh-resolution complex amplitude control, typically in the RF chain, toachieve beamforming at the expense of power consumption and efficiency.

The example embodiments disclosed herein use low-resolution, e.g.,single-bit, transmitters and/or receivers and/or transceivers as meansof relaxing the linearity and power requirements of next-generationwireless communications. An easily replicable, low power, low cost,RF-in, bits-out one-bit receiver cell forms the basic building block ofa nonlinear MIMO cellular system. This transceiver architecture enablessimple beamforming in the digital domain.

The devices, systems and techniques disclosed herein may be applicableto any wireless communications application but are particularly suitablefor high-frequency cellular communications operating in K-band and aboveK-band, where the propagation characteristics of microwave andmillimeter-wave signals, typically rely on high-gain antennas andencourage spatial multiplexing. The inherent spectral inefficiency oflow-resolution modulation schemes becomes less of a concern when fewerend users are sharing identical space-bandwidth. Additionally, as thecarrier frequency increases, solid-state amplifiers are less able toprovide gain due to transistor parasitics, which result in a finitemaximum operating frequency that increases complexity and powerconsumption for a given output power. At least one counterintuitivetechnique disclosed herein is to use transistor amplifiers in their mostefficient nonlinear regime to reduce power consumption.

The illustrative examples provided herein include ultra-low-power,low-complexity, scalable MIMO radio cells. These radio cells exploitnonlinearities in their devices and/or circuits to obtain very low powerconsumption and ease of fabrication in a variety of technologies forwide bandwidths and at very high carrier frequencies. Such radio cellmay include a receiver or a transmitter or receiver and transmitter. Inat least some embodiments, the radio cell is configured to demodulate orto modulate or to modulate and demodulate a single bit per symbol. Atleast some of the illustrative example radio cells disclosed hereininclude energy detectors, such as envelope detectors and/or square lawdetectors that utilize detection directly from a received RF carrier,without requiring down-conversion and/or the use of mixers and/or localoscillators. Beneficially, such single-bit receivers and/or transmittersand/or transceivers relax linearity and power requirements ofnext-generation wireless communications. The simple radio cellsdisclosed herein are low power, low cost, easily replicable RF-in,bits-out, one-bit receivers that form basic building block of anonlinear MIMO cellular system. This transceiver architecture enablessimple beamforming in the digital domain.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a communications network 100 inaccordance with various aspects described herein. For example,communications network 100 can facilitate in whole or in part receiving,by a first radio module at a first location, a wireless MIMO signal, toobtain a first received RF signal. The wireless MIMO signal includesinformation originating at a remote MIMO transmitter and conveyed via awireless channel. An envelope of the first received RF signal isdetected by the first radio module without requiring a local oscillator,to obtain a first detected baseband signal. The first detected basebandsignal is compared to a reference value to obtain a first digital signalthat is provided to a digital processor. The digital processor alsoobtains a second digital signal from a second radio module receiving thewireless MIMO signal at a second location and determines an estimate ofthe information originating at the remote MIMO transmitter according tothe first and second digital signals. In particular, a communicationsnetwork 125 is presented for providing broadband access 110 to aplurality of data terminals 114 via access terminal 112, wireless access120 to a plurality of mobile devices 124 and vehicle 126 via basestation or access point 122, voice access 130 to a plurality oftelephony devices 134, via switching device 132 and/or media access 140to a plurality of audio/video display devices 144 via media terminal142. In addition, communication network 125 is coupled to one or morecontent sources 175 of audio, video, graphics, text, and/or other media.While broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130 andmedia access 140 are shown separately, one or more of these forms ofaccess can be combined to provide multiple access services to a singleclient device (e.g., mobile devices 124 can receive media content viamedia terminal 142, data terminal 114 can be provided voice access viaswitching device 132, and so on).

The communications network 125 includes a plurality of network elements(NE) 150, 152, 154, 156, etc., for facilitating the broadband access110, wireless access 120, voice access 130, media access 140 and/or thedistribution of content from content sources 175. The communicationsnetwork 125 can include a circuit switched or packet switched network, avoice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network, Internet protocol (IP)network, a cable network, a passive or active optical network, a 4G, 5G,or higher generation wireless access network, WIMAX network,UltraWideband network, personal area network or other wireless accessnetwork, a broadcast satellite network and/or other communicationsnetwork.

In at least some embodiments, the base station or access point 122 maybe adapted to include a low-power MIMO radio 182 having an OOKtransmitter, and/or an OOK receiver and/or an OOK transceiver accordingto the low-power, low-complexity radios and related devices disclosedherein. Likewise, in at least some embodiments, the mobile devices 124and vehicle 126 may be adapted to include a low-power MIMO radio, 183 a,183 b, 183 c, generally 183, having an OOK transmitter, and/or an OOKreceiver and/or an OOK transceiver according to the low-power,low-complexity radios and related devices disclosed herein.

In various embodiments, the access terminal 112 can include a digitalsubscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS), optical line terminal (OLT) and/or other access terminal.The data terminals 114 can include personal computers, laptop computers,netbook computers, tablets or other computing devices along with digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, data over coax service interfacespecification (DOCSIS) modems or other cable modems, a wireless modemsuch as a 4G, 5G, or higher generation modem, an optical modem and/orother access devices.

In various embodiments, the base station or access point 122 can includea 4G, 5G, or higher generation base station, an access point thatoperates via an 802.11 standard such as 802.11n, 802.11ac or otherwireless access terminal. The mobile devices 124 can include mobilephones, e-readers, tablets, phablets, wireless modems, and/or othermobile computing devices.

In various embodiments, the switching device 132 can include a privatebranch exchange or central office switch, a media services gateway, VoIPgateway or other gateway device and/or other switching device. Thetelephony devices 134 can include traditional telephones (with orwithout a terminal adapter), VoIP telephones and/or other telephonydevices.

In various embodiments, the media terminal 142 can include a cablehead-end or other TV head-end, a satellite receiver, gateway or othermedia terminal 142. The display devices 144 can include televisions withor without a set top box, personal computers and/or other displaydevices.

In various embodiments, the content sources 175 include broadcasttelevision and radio sources, video on demand platforms and streamingvideo and audio services platforms, one or more content data networks,data servers, web servers and other content servers, and/or othersources of media.

In various embodiments, the communications network 125 can includewired, optical and/or wireless links and the network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc., can include service switching points, signal transferpoints, service control points, network gateways, media distributionhubs, servers, firewalls, routers, edge devices, switches and othernetwork nodes for routing and controlling communications traffic overwired, optical and wireless links as part of the Internet and otherpublic networks as well as one or more private networks, for managingsubscriber access, for billing and network management and for supportingother network functions.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a MIMO communication system 200 functioning within thecommunication network of FIG. 1 in accordance with various aspectsdescribed herein. According to the illustrative example, the MIMOcommunication system 200 includes a transmitter portion 201 and anonlinear receiver portion 202. The transmitter portion 201 includes anM-bit digital beamforming system 203 in communication with M antennas orradiating elements 204 a, 204 b, . . . , 204M, generally 204. Thereceiver portion 202 includes N antennas 205 a, 205 b, . . . , 205N,generally 205. Each of the antennas 205 is coupled to a respective radioreceiver 206 a, 206 b, . . . , 206N, generally 206, which are coupled,in turn, to an N-bit digital receiver processing system 207. Wirelesscommunication signals propagate between the transmitter portion 201 andthe receiver portion 202 via a wireless channel 208.

The example nonlinear receiver portion 202 uses an RF-in, bits-outapproach that is well-suited for a low-cost, low-power solution to thescaling problem that arises in massive MIMO. The receiver portion 202may include one or more highly efficient antenna-coupled nonlinearamplifiers and one or more detector elements, such as nonlinearrectifying elements, e.g., diodes, that facilitate a direct-to-basebanddemodulator, sometimes referred to as an on-off-keying (OOK)demodulator. A baseband signal is obtained at an output of a detectorelement, without necessarily requiring any down conversion step.Baseband signals can be digitized, e.g., using a comparator that may beconfigured with a fixed and/or an adjustable threshold upon whichcomparisons are determined. It is understood that in at least someembodiments baseband processing may occur prior to digitization. Forexample, one or more of gain, filtering and/or attenuation may beapplied to one or more of the baseband signals. Filtering may includepassive filtering and/or active filtering. In a massive MIMO deployment,the digital outputs of each nonlinear receiver chain may be furtherprocessed in a digital domain to achieve an enhanced, and ideally amaximum channel capacity. In a full-rank channel, capacity saturateswith the number of transmitters, assuming more receivers thantransmitters, one-bit-per-transmitter as the signal to noise ratioincreases. Consequently, more than one bit-per-channel use may beachieved as a number of transmitter and receiver chains increase; thisis exemplified by the trivial case of M single-input-single-output(SISO) channels with one transmitter and one receiver, which can achieveM bits-per-channel use.

Although the illustrative examples disclosed herein refer to envelopedetection or OOK, it is understood that other communication techniquesmay be used. For example, information may be impressed upon atransmitted RF according to a different modulation, such as phase shiftkeying (PSK). In such applications, the receivers disclosed herein maybe adapted to perform detection to obtain baseband signals according tothe type of modulation applied to the RF signal. Such applications mayuse well established techniques, such as differential PSK, energythresholding or a combination thereof.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a MIMO radio module or cell 210 functioning within thecommunication network of FIG. 1 and the MIMO communication system ofFIG. 2A in accordance with various aspects described herein. The exampleMIMO radio cell 210 includes at least one antenna 211 having a drivingpoint, sometimes referred to as an antenna port or antenna terminal 212,an antenna coupler 213, an RF amplifier 214, a detector 215, a basebandamplifier 216, and a 1-bit ADC 217. It is understood that someembodiments may not require a separate antenna coupler 213.Alternatively or in addition, at least some embodiments may not requirean amplifier 214. Depending on the desired degree of baseband analogprocessing, some embodiments may not require the baseband amplifier 216.For example, a minimal radio module may include an antenna, a detectorand a 1-bit ADC, without necessarily requiring one or more of theantenna coupler 213 or the RF amplifier 214 and baseband amplifier 216.

Due to the very large bandwidths available in millimeter wave spectrum,digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and ADCs must work at very highsampling rates. Since their power consumption scales approximatelylinearly in the sampling rate and exponentially in the number of bitsper sample, only very few data converters are employed instate-of-the-art systems and a base station with hundreds of antennaelements may only have a handful of data converters. Unlike fully analogbeamforming systems, where phase and amplitude can individually becontrolled per antenna element, limiting the number of data converterscompromises robustness and mobility rendering millimeter wave spectrumless attractive for new use cases such as ultra-reliable low latencycommunications (URLLC).

Such simplified, or minimal complexity MIMO radio cells 210 offerseveral advantages. For example, a minimally complex module or cell mayoccupy a relatively small area of a MIMO receiver portion 202. Spacesavings may be advantageous for mobile device applications, e.g., for amobile phone, a tablet, a PC, for appliance applications, such as smartTVs, and/or Internet of Things (IoT) devices, e.g., home appliances,printers, security system components, surveillance cameras, residentialcontrollers, personal assistants, cloud-based voice service appliances,and the like. In the illustrative example, the dipole antenna 218 has amaximum dimension determined by its length, L. The example MIMO radiocell 210 occupies an area defined by the dipole antenna length L, and amodule width, W. In at least some embodiments, the width W is less thanthe length L, i.e., W<L, such that an area occupied by the module isless than a square of the maximum antenna dimension, i.e., A=LΔW≤L².

Dimensions of an antenna, such as the example dipole antenna 218, whichhappens to be a bowtie type of dipole antenna adapted to provide arelatively wide operational bandwidth, may be determined from an antennacalculator. For example, a length L may be determined according to:L-=0.75λ. Likewise, a width w may be determined according to: w=0.25λ.For example, the MIMO radio cell 210 configured to operate in the Kaband, having a frequency between about 26.5-40 GHz, and a correspondingfree-space wavelength between about 11.1 and 7.5 mm. Assuming operationat a center frequency of about 33 GHz, the free-space wavelength isabout 9.1 mm, may have a length L≈6.8 mm and a width w≈2.3 mm.Accordingly, an area occupied by a Ka band MIMO radio may be less thanabout 7 mm×7 mm≈50 mm².

Other advantages of simplified, or minimal complexity MIMO radio cells210 include relatively low power requirements and relatively low thermalload. According to the examples disclosed herein, the MIMO radio cells210 use simple energy detectors, such as envelope detectors, or squarelaw detectors. Such simple detectors may operate on the received RFsignal directly without requiring any local operator and/or mixing toobtain an intermediate frequency between RF and baseband, as would betypical for millimeter wave digital communication systems. Rather thesimple detectors may obtain a baseband signal directly from the RFsignal according to an envelope of the RF signal. Moreover, thelow-resolution, e.g., single-bit, ADC may be operated in a nonlinearregion, e.g., using a simple comparator circuit, without requiringhigh-resolution, linear ADCs, as would be typical for millimeter wavedigital communication systems. Still further, should signalamplification be used, e.g., providing an LNA between the antenna 218and the detector, the LNA does not need to be operated in a linearregion. As the low-resolution ADC relies upon a simple comparatorcircuit, linearity of the received signal does not need to be preserved.Accordingly, the amplifier, e.g., LNA, may be operated in a nonlinearregion, e.g., in saturation. It is understood that operation of anamplifier, e.g., LNA, without regard to preserving linearity, e.g., insaturation, may be accomplished a substantially less power dissipationthat would be required for linear operation. Likewise, operating theminimal complexity MIMO radio cell 210 requires relatively low power,certainly much less than traditional digital communication receiversoperating in comparable wavelengths. Consumption of less power resultsin generation of less of a thermal load, e.g., according to componentinefficiencies, power requirements and/or circuital resistive losses.

Beneficially, the factors contributing to smaller, simpler and coolerMIMO receiver modules also reduce initial costs as well as operationalcosts, e.g., lower power consumption and cooling. The reduced modulesize and reduced thermal load further allows more MIMO receiver modulesto be used in the same space than would otherwise be possible withtraditional MIMO receivers employing higher-resolution ADCs, and/or LNAsoperating in their linear regions, digital receivers and/or detectorsemploying local oscillators, e.g., operating in a linear region. Thereduced cost, thermal load and size permit larger numbers to be usedwithin the same footprint, which is well adapted for massively MIMOsystems. It is envisioned that massively MIMO systems may employ scores,if not hundreds, or even more MIMO receiver modules.

The example MIMO radio cell 210 includes a dipole antenna 218—in thisinstance, a bowtie antenna 218. It is understood that the antenna 211may include a balanced structure, such as a dipole, an unbalancedstructure, such as a monopole, and/or a patch. The antenna may be aresonant structure, such as the example dipole antenna 218, having alength L that approximates one-half of an operating wavelength (λ),i.e., L≈λ/2. Without limitation, the antenna 211 may include anelectric-field sensing element, a magnetic-field sensing element, or acombination of both an electric-field and a magnetic-field sensingelements. By way of non-limiting example, it is understood that antenna211 may include a wire structure, such as a dipole, a monopole, or aloop. It is understood that a loop antenna 211 may be configuredaccording to varying geometries, e.g., a circular loop, an ellipticalloop, a square loop, and a rectangular loop. A wire structure antenna211 may be free-standing, e.g., formed from a rigid conductor and/orformed on a substrate 219 and/or similar supporting structure. Theantenna 211 may be substantially omnidirectional, such as the exampledipole 218 structure. Alternatively or in addition, the antenna 211 mayoffer some directivity.

It is understood further that the antenna 211 may operate according to apreferred polarization, such as a linear polarization, a circularpolarization, or more generally, an elliptical polarization. By way ofexample, the dipole antenna 218 may be replaced with a crossed dipole,in which two dipole antennas are positioned in an orthogonal arrangementand coupled to a common antenna terminal 212 via a phase shiftingelement, e.g., a 90-degree phase shifter. Still other antenna 211 mayinclude antenna arrays, such as Yagi antenna arrays, log-periodicstructures, spiral antennas and the like.

The antenna coupler 213 is positioned between the antenna terminal 212and the detector 215. For embodiments, in which a gain element 214, suchas an LNA is included, the antenna coupler 213 is positioned between theantenna terminal 212 and the gain element 214. In at least someembodiments, the antennal coupler 213 is positioned at the antennaterminal 212. The antenna coupler 213 may include a matching network,such as a conjugate matching network matching a driving point impedanceof the antenna 211 to a characteristic impedance of a transmission lineextending between the antenna coupler 213 and one or more of the gainelement 214 and the detector 215.

Alternatively or in addition, the antenna coupler 213 includes a balun.The balun is adapted to facilitate a coupling of a balanced structure,such as the example dipole antenna 218 and an unbalanced structure, suchas an unbalanced transmission line. Baluns can facilitate operation of abalanced device, such as the example dipole antenna 218 by promoting asubstantially symmetric current distribution between each half of thedipole antenna 218. Baluns may include one or more of transmissionlines, lumped elements, e.g., capacitors and/or inductors, includingtransmission line elements, e.g., λ/4 transmission line segments, andthe like. In at least some embodiments, the balun structure may includea lossy element, such as a ferrite element and/or RF chokes adapted toabsorb and/or otherwise prevent propagation of unbalanced currents.

In at least some embodiments, the MIMO radio cell 210 includes one ormore filters. Filters may include, without limitation, high-passfilters, low-pass filters and band-pass filters. In at least someembodiments, filters may be analog filters, e.g., constructed accordingto lumped resistor and/or inductor and/or capacitor components.Alternatively or in addition, analog filters may utilize one or morewaveguide segments, such as waveguide lengths, shorted waveguide stubsand/or open waveguide stubs positioned at predetermined lengths along awaveguide, and the like. One or more filters may be provided, forexample, at one or more of the antenna terminal 212, the antenna coupler213, an input of the LNA 214, and output of the LNA, an input of thedetector 215 and/or at the output of the detector 215, and/or the outputof a baseband processing stage, such as the example baseband amplifier216. In some embodiments the filters may be high-pass filters adapted toblock DC currents. Alternatively or in addition, the filters may below-pass filters adapted to pass baseband currents.

The detector 215 may include any device having a non-linearcharacteristic curve, e.g., a non-linear current-voltage (I-V) curve.Examples include, without limitation, a diode, a transistor, e.g., atransistor wired in a diode configuration. In practical applications,parasitic values of the detector may be selected to ensure minimalsignal degradation resulting from operation of the detector device atthe frequencies of operation, e.g., at the RF the carrier frequencyand/or the baseband frequency.

In some embodiments, the MIMO receive cell 210 may include a basebandamplifier 216 designed to amplify the baseband signal from the output ofthe envelope detector 215 to a suitable voltage/current/power level asrequired by comparator ADC 217. The amplifier 216 may also act as animpedance-transforming buffer stage between the enveloped detector 215and comparator 217.

The comparator may include any suitable device to provide a stablebinary output according to a comparison of an input baseband signal to areference value. For example, the reference value may be a referencevoltage. A value of the reference voltage may be selected to serve as adecision between a binary 1 or a binary 0. For example, if an expectedvoltage of a received baseband signal is expected to be 0 and 10microvolts, a threshold value may be selected as ½ the maximum value,i.e., about 5 microvolts. In at least some embodiments, the thresholdvoltage is determined according to a minimum signal level, e.g., asystem noise floor, in which a received voltage above a predeterminedvalue above the noise floor may represent a binary 1. In someembodiments, the threshold value is fixed. Alternatively or in addition,the threshold value may be variable, e.g., according to signalconditions, noise, conditions, a calibration value, and so on. As anexample, assume a simplified passive embodiment of receiver MIMO 210that omits amplifiers 214 and 216. Further assume that the system isimpedance matched and the noise seen at the comparator is solely due tothermal noise generated in the envelope detector. It is well-known thatthermal noise in passive systems exhibits a flat spectral power densityof −174 dBm/Hz. If the system bandwidth is 1 GHz, the correspondingnoise power is −84 dBm. Suppose that the input power to the system is−50 dBm (for signal symbol 1) and the aggregate loss from antenna 218,filter 213, amplifier 214, and envelope detector 215 is 20 dB. Thiscorresponds to an output power of approximately −70 dBm at the inputcomparator 217. Since the SNR is relatively high (14 dB), one-half thesignal voltage at comparator 217 will approximately lie halfway betweenthe noise floor voltage and signal on-state. From a voltage standpoint,halving the voltage reduces power by one-fourth, which corresponds to athreshold power of −76 dBm. Assuming a 50-Ohm input impedance, thiscorresponds to a threshold voltage of approximately 35 μV. In the eventthat the comparator hardware 217 is unable to detect voltage differencesthis low (because of, e.g. built-in hysteresis), it will be of benefitto instate baseband amplifier 216 to accommodate lower input poweroperation. One potential strategy for adjusting the threshold isfeedback based on individual digital outputs, i.e. if the comparator 217is outputting all binary 1's, the comparator threshold may be set toolow and should be increased.

If a pre-amplifier at millimeter-wave is included, then the link budgetwould improve significantly due to the square-law device. That is, ifthe power incident upon the receive cell is −70 dBm and themillimeter-wave LNA gain is 30 dB, with a diode responsivity of 10 kV/Wthis corresponds to a 1 mV baseband output voltage. Even this is likelytoo low to pass along to a standard CMOS threshold detector which wouldhave noise and hysteresis. Therefore a baseband voltage amplifier withe.g., 10V/V gain might be used. The baseband amplifier would have highinput impedance (e.g., greater than the diode video resistance over thechannel bandwidth of −1 GHz, as an example). It would also haverelatively low output resistance in order to pass a multi-GHz signalacross the input capacitance of a CMOS threshold detector IC (perhaps500 ohms output resistance or less).

FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limitingembodiment of a MIMO radio module 220 functioning within thecommunication network of FIG. 1 and the MIMO communication system ofFIG. 2A in accordance with various aspects described herein. The exampleMIMO radio module 220 includes four MIMO radio cells, 222 a, 222 b, 222c, 222 d, generally 222. Each of the cells 222 is coupled to arespective interconnect or terminal 224 a, 224 b, 224 c, 224 d,generally 224, via a respective transmission line 223 a, 223 b, 223 c,223 d, generally 223. The terminals 224 may include an electricalinterconnect adapted for repeated connections and disconnections, e.g.,a connector, such as a coaxial connector, a push-pin connector, and thelike. Alternatively or in addition the terminals 224 may include morepermanent electrical interconnects, such as solder pads.

According to the illustrative example, a respective digital signaland/or digital values y1, y2, y3, y4 is available and/or otherwiseaccessible at each terminal 224 of the group of terminals 224. Thedigital signal and/or value y1, y2, y3, y4 may be equivalent to anoutput of the comparator 217 (FIG. 2B) of each cell 222. The digitalsignals/values y1, y2, y3, y4 are provided to a digital signal processor(not shown) for combination and/or digital processing. At least oneexample digital signal processor is the N-bit digital receiverprocessing system 207 (FIG. 2A).

The cells 222 may be identical cells, e.g., according to the exampleMIMO radio cell 210 (FIG. 2B). Alternatively, the cells 222 may differ,e.g., some cells 222 adapted for one portion of an RF spectrum, whileother cells 222 are adapted for another portion of the RF spectrum.Alternatively or in addition, some cells 222 may be adapted for onepolarization, e.g., linear horizontal, while other cells 222 are adaptedfor another polarization, e.g., linear vertical. Some cells 222 may beadapted to include LNAs 214, while other cells 222 may not. For example,those cells 222 without LNAs 214 may operate in a passive mode whensignal conditions permit, e.g., relative strong received signal levels,relatively low interference and/or favorable channel conditions. Othercells 222 with the LNAs 214 may be selectively engaged and/or otherwiseactivated according to unfavorable signal conditions, e.g., relativeweak received signal levels, relatively high interference and/orunfavorable channel conditions. Such different cells may be arranged onthe same MIMO radio module 220, e.g., interspersed, and/or arranged ingroups.

Alternatively or in addition different MIMO radio modules 220 may becombined within a common receiver portion 202 (FIG. 2A). For example, afirst group of MIMO radio modules 220 may include passive detectors,e.g., without LNAs 214, while a second group of MIMO radio modules 220may include active detectors, e.g., including LNAs 214. Otherparameters, such as antennas, matching networks and/or filters, whenprovided, may differ within the same MIMO radio module 220 and/oraccording to the different groups of MIMO radio modules.

In at least some embodiments, one or more of the cells may include anactive element, such as an LNA 214 (FIG. 2B) and/or a comparator 217(FIG. 2B). In such instances, each of the cells 222 may requireelectrical power, e.g., according to one or more voltage levels. It isenvisioned that in at least some embodiments, the electrical power,e.g., the one or more voltage levels may be provided by one or morepower supplies 225 provided at the MIMO radio module 220. Alternativelyor in addition, one or more voltage levels may be provided by a separatepower source, such as a stand-alone power supply. In suchconfigurations, the MIMO radio module 220 may include a powerinterconnect, e.g., a connector, adapted to interconnect to a remotepower source. Conductors, e.g., traces, may be provided from contacts ofa power connector to each of the cells 222.

According to the illustrative example, the MIMO radio cells 222,including antennas 211 (FIG. 2B), are spaced according to acenter-to-center distance d. Depending upon a size and/or shape of thecells, there may be a separate distance between adjacent cells, asshown. However, it is envisioned that in at least some embodiments, thecells 222 may be adjacent to each other, such that there is noseparation between adjacent cells 222. The cell spacing d may be uniformbetween all cells 222 of the module 220. Alternatively the cell spacingd may vary between at least some of the cells 222.

According to the illustrative example module, the cells 222 are arrangedin a one-dimensional fashion, e.g., along a common linear axis 226. Insome embodiments, the cells may be arranged in a two-dimensionalfashion, e.g., according to a 2-dimensional (2D) pattern. The 2D patternmay be a regular pattern, in which spacings between adjacent cells 222is uniform, e.g., constant in one or two dimensions. Example 2D pattersinclude, without limitation, a rectangular grid, a hexagonal close packgrid, and the like. Such 3D patterns are beneficial at least in thatthey permit a greater number of cells 222 to be provided within arelatively compact receiver portion 202. It is envisioned that in atleast some embodiments, the cells 222 may be arranged in athree-dimensional (3D) fashion, e.g., according to a conformal patternthat may conform to a 3D surface, such as a cube, a tetrahedron, aparallelepiped, a cone, or a curved surface, such as a spherical portionand/or an ellipsoidal portion.

FIG. 2D is planar view of an example, non-limiting embodiment of an RFfront end for a MIMO radio module 230, in this instance, a low-power,OOK receiver, functioning within the communication network 100 of FIG. 1and the MIMO communication system 200 of FIG. 2A in accordance withvarious aspects described herein. The example MIMO radio module 230includes a substrate 231 upon which the antenna cells and basebanddistribution network are formed. The illustrative radio module 230includes four radio cells 232, four connectors 234 and a basebanddistribution network 233. Each radio cell 232 is in communication with arespective one of the connectors 234 via the RF distribution network233. In operation, each radio cell 232 receives a wireless MIMO signal,detects bandpass information modulated onto the wireless MIMO signal ata remote MIMO transmitter, and generates a detected baseband signalrepresentative of the modulated RF signal. The analog signal is passedto a signal combiner, which then passes to an ADC, e.g., a comparator,then in at least some embodiments to a digital processing unit (notshown) to determine an estimate of the transmitted informationoriginating at the MIMO transmitter. This present example embodiment maybe considered a limited implementation of the MIMO receiver 210,comprising an antenna 211, an antenna coupling/matching network 213 atantenna terminal 212, an RF LNA 214, and an envelope detector 215.

A first inset illustrates in more detail one of the MIMO radio cells232′. The example MIMO radio cell 232 includes a bowtie dipole antenna236, an antenna coupler 237, a diode energy detector 238, a first stubtuner 239 and a second stub tuner 240. The diode 238 is in electricalcommunication with the dipole antenna via the coupler 237. A moredetailed illustration of the example antenna coupler is provided in asecond inset 237′. The antenna coupler 237′ includes a capacitivearrangement adapted to block a transfer of low frequencies, e.g., DC,between the dipole antenna 236 and the diode 238. The example capacitivecoupler 237′ includes an inter-digitated structure extending in lengthto about 100 m, with each digit of the inter-digitated structure havinga width of about 10 m, and a separation from adjacent digits of about 2μm. The antenna coupler configuration 237′ ensures that received RFsignals at the approximate operating frequencies, e.g., K-band, arepassed from the antenna 236 to the diode 238 with minimal attenuationand/or distortion.

The diode 238 receives an RF signal responsive to exposure of the dipoleantenna 236 to a wireless MIMO signal. Thus, the RF signal will dependupon the transmitted MIMO signal as adapted by a wireless RF channelbetween the remote transmitter and the dipole antenna 236. To at leastsome extent, the RF signal will depend on a position and/or orientationof the dipole antenna 236. Accordingly, it is expected that in at leastsome applications, RF signals obtained by the different MIMO radio cells232 when exposed to the same wireless RF signal may differ according tochannel variances. The diode is configured to rectify the received RFsignal to obtain a representation of an amplitude or envelope of thereceived RF signal. The stub tuners 239 and/or 240 may facilitateimpedance matching of the diode 238 to a transmission line and/or toother circuit elements, such as the low-resolution ADC or comparator(not shown). According to the illustrated example, the first stub tuner239 presents an open circuit at a terminal of the diode 238, at the RFfrequency, which aids in impedance matching at the RF frequency from theantenna 236 to the diode 238. The second stub tuner 240 presents areactive impedance to twice the RF frequency at the terminal of diode238, which prevents leakage of the second harmonic into the basebanddistribution network 233.

The length of the dipole antenna 26 is about 4 mm. It is worth notingthat the dimensions of the MIMO radio cell 232′ is about 4 mm by about4.5 mm. Namely, the dimensions of the cell 232′ are substantiallydetermined according to a size of the antenna resulting in an extremelycompact form factor well adapted for positioning proximate to other suchcells 232 in the example MIMO radio module 230.

The substrate 231 may include any suitable substrate that supportsconductive elements, such as radiating elements, i.e., antennas,transmission lines, and the like. Examples include, without limitation,dielectric substrates including one or more of glass, fiberglass,plastics, polymers, and/or semiconductors, e.g., silicon. Furtherexample substrates include bakelite orpolyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, commonly used as an electricalinsulator possessing considerable mechanical strength. Otheralternatives include glass-reinforced epoxy laminate sheets, tubes, rodsand printed circuit boards (PCB), such as FR-4. Still other alternativesinclude glass reinforced hydrocarbon/ceramic laminates materials, suchas RO4003® Series High Frequency Circuit Materials, PTFE laminates andglass microfiber reinforced PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) compositematerials, e.g., RT/Duroid® laminates, produced by Rogers Corporation.

The conductive elements, such as the antennas, matching networks,filters and/or the RF distribution networks may be configured upon thesubstrate 231. Such conductive elements may be defined by PCBfabrication processes including without limitation one or more ofchemical etching, chemical deposition, semiconductor fabricationprocesses, or combination of both PCB and semiconductor fabricationprocesses. PCB fabrication processes include, without limitation imagingdesired layout on conductor, e.g., copper, clad laminates, etching orremoving excess copper from surface and/or inner layers to define and/orotherwise reveal traces and/or device mounting pads, creating a PCBlayer stack-up by laminating, e.g., heating and pressing, boardmaterials at high temperatures, and the like. PCB fabrication processesmay include drilling holes for mounting holes, through hole pins andvias. Semiconductor fabrication processes may include one or more of adeposition that grows, coats, or otherwise transfers a material onto asubstrate, e.g., a semiconductor wafer. Available technologies include,without limitation, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapordeposition, electrochemical deposition, molecular beam epitaxy andatomic layer deposition among others.

Low-resolution, receivers with 1-bit ADCs can be optimal in abits/Joule-sense if the RF front-end is sufficiently low-power. Theinherent nonlinearity of a 1-bit ADC permits the radio to be designed tosatisfy power constraints without regard for linearity. As disclosedherein the RF front-end may be extremely low-power (even passive).

The example energy detector is configured to operate at about 38 GHz.The energy detector may incorporate a W-band zero-bias diode (ZBD),available from Virginia Diodes, in a 50-ohm co-planar waveguide (CPW)environment with 150 μm pitch pads. The CPW metal is 20 nm Ti, 480 nm Audeposited by an electron-beam evaporation liftoff process on500-μm-thick high-resistivity (ρ>5 k Ω·cm) silicon. A single-stubnetwork matches the input to the ZBD, while two stubs at the outputprovide terminations at fc (open) and 2fc (reactive). The diode isflip-chip soldered to the pads by hotplate using low-melting-pointindium alloy solder balls. Gold wirebonds (diameter 25 μm) are used toequalize ground plane potential in the CPW, especially at stubjunctions.

FIG. 2E depicts an illustrative embodiment of a MIMO communicationprocess 260 in accordance with various aspects described herein. Aspatially divers wireless signal is received at 261. The spatiallydivers signal may include a spatially multiplexed signal and/orspatially diverse signals resulting from multipath propagation between atransmitter portion 201 and a receiver portion 202 (FIG. 2A). In atleast some embodiments, the spatially diverse wireless signal isobtained according to a MIMO process, such as those described inassociation with new radio and/or Next Generation Long Term EvolutionLTE) wireless radio communications. In at least some embodiments, thereceiving is accomplished using a transducer, such as an antenna element211 (FIG. 2B) adapted to generate a received RF signal at an antennaterminal 212 (FIG. 2B) of the antenna 211 responsive to the spatiallydiverse wireless signal impingent upon the antenna element 211.

According to the example process 260, the received RF signal is coupledat 262 to an energy detector 215 (FIG. 2B). The coupling may beaccomplished by an electrical conductor, e.g., a transmission lineextending between the antenna terminal 212 and the detector 215.Alternatively or in addition, the coupling may include one or more of anantenna coupler 213 (FIG. 2B), a balun, a filter, and the like.

In at least some embodiments, the process 260 includes signalconditioning that includes an application of amplitude and/or gain. Forexample, the received RF signal is amplified, e.g., by an LNA 214 (FIG.2B) before being applied to the detector 215. Other signal conditioningmay include attenuating interference.

According to the example process 260, a baseband signal is detected at263 from the received RF signal. For example, a detector 215 may beadapted to directly detect baseband information from the received RFsignal, without requiring a down-conversion to an intermediate frequencyand/or use of a local oscillator. For example, the detecting may detectan amplitude and/or an envelope of the received RF signal. In at leastsome embodiments, detection includes applying the received RF signal toa power detector. Alternatively or in addition detection includesapplying the received RF signal to a square-law detector. In at leastsome embodiments, the detecting includes applying the received RF signalto an electrical device having a nonlinear I-V characteristic curve. Inat least some embodiments the electrical device may be an active device,such as a transistor. Alternatively or in addition, the electricaldevice may be a passive device, such as a diode.

According to the example process 260, the detected signal is digitizedat 264. A digitizing process may be accomplished using a low resolution,e.g., a single-bit ADC 217 (FIG. 2B). The ADC 217 may include anonlinear process, such as a comparison of the detected signal to areference, e.g., a threshold voltage. A value of a digital output of theADC 217 is determined according to a result of the comparison to obtaina binary 1 or a binary 0, as the case may be.

In at least some embodiments, the example process 260 estimates at 265information transmitted over a wireless channel 208 (FIG. 2A) via thespatially diverse wireless signal. In at least some embodiments, theestimation is obtained via digital signal processing of digital signalsobtained from one or more MIMO radio cells 210 (FIG. 2B) or modules 220(FIG. 2C). Digital signal processing may include, without limitation, acombining of digital signals obtained from at least some of the cells222, and/or modules 230.

It is envisioned that beamforming may be applied at a spatial diversitytransmitter, e.g., a MIMO transmitter. In particular, a massively MIMOsignal may employ beamforming to direct MIMO signals to one or moreparticular spatially diverse receivers. In at least some embodiments,beamforming may be applied at the receiver, e.g., steering an antennabeam towards one or more directions of the spatially diverse signals.However, according to the various examples disclosed herein it isenvisioned that the example MIMO receiver portions 202 (FIG. 2A), MIMOcells 222 and/or modules 220 (FIG. 2B) may operate without applyingbeamforming. Such a relaxation with respect to beamforming relaxesspacing and/or separation, and/or orientation of multiple antennas 211(FIG. 2B) Likewise, such as relaxation of beamforming at the MIMOreceiver portion 202 is consistent with the overall low-power,low-complexity architecture. Accordingly, phase control elements, suchas phase shifters, delay lines, and the like are unnecessary at thereceiver portion 202.

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 2E, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown illustrating anexample, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication networkin accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular avirtualized communication network is presented that can be used toimplement some or all of the subsystems and functions of communicationnetwork 100, the subsystems and functions of the example systems 200,modules or devices 210, 220, 230, and example process 260 presented inFIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E and 3. For example, virtualizedcommunication network 300 can facilitate in whole or in part receiving,by a first radio module at a first location, a wireless MIMO signal, toobtain a first received RF signal. The wireless MIMO signal includesinformation originating at a remote MIMO transmitter and conveyed via awireless channel. An envelope of the first received RF signal isdetected by the first radio module without requiring a local oscillator,to obtain a first detected baseband signal. The first detected basebandsignal is compared to a reference value to obtain a first digital signalthat is provided to a digital processor. The digital processor alsoobtains a second digital signal from a second radio module receiving thewireless MIMO signal at a second location and determines an estimate ofthe information originating at the remote MIMO transmitter according tothe first and second digital signals.

In particular, a cloud networking architecture is shown that leveragescloud technologies and supports rapid innovation and scalability via atransport layer 350, a virtualized network function cloud 325 and/or oneor more cloud computing environments 375. In various embodiments, thiscloud networking architecture is an open architecture that leveragesapplication programming interfaces (APIs); reduces complexity fromservices and operations; supports more nimble business models; andrapidly and seamlessly scales to meet evolving customer requirementsincluding traffic growth, diversity of traffic types, and diversity ofperformance and reliability expectations.

In contrast to traditional network elements—which are typicallyintegrated to perform a single function, the virtualized communicationnetwork employs virtual network elements (VNEs) 330, 332, 334, etc.,that perform some or all of the functions of network elements 150, 152,154, 156, etc., For example, the network architecture can provide asubstrate of networking capability, often called Network FunctionVirtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) or simply infrastructure that iscapable of being directed with software and Software Defined Networking(SDN) protocols to perform a broad variety of network functions andservices. This infrastructure can include several types of substrates.The most typical type of substrate being servers that support NetworkFunction Virtualization (NFV), followed by packet forwardingcapabilities based on generic computing resources, with specializednetwork technologies brought to bear when general purpose processors orgeneral purpose integrated circuit devices offered by merchants(referred to herein as merchant silicon) are not appropriate. In thiscase, communication services can be implemented as cloud-centricworkloads.

As an example, a traditional network element 150 (shown in FIG. 1), suchas an edge router can be implemented via a VNE 330 composed of NFVsoftware modules, merchant silicon, and associated controllers. Thesoftware can be written so that increasing workload consumes incrementalresources from a common resource pool, and moreover so that it iselastic: so the resources are only consumed when needed. In a similarfashion, other network elements such as other routers, switches, edgecaches, and middle-boxes are instantiated from the common resource pool.Such sharing of infrastructure across a broad set of uses makes planningand growing infrastructure easier to manage.

In an embodiment, the transport layer 350 includes fiber, cable, wiredand/or wireless transport elements, network elements and interfaces toprovide broadband access 110, wireless access 120, voice access 130,media access 140 and/or access to content sources 175 for distributionof content to any or all of the access technologies. In particular, insome cases a network element needs to be positioned at a specific place,and this allows for less sharing of common infrastructure. Other times,the network elements have specific physical layer adapters that cannotbe abstracted or virtualized and might require special DSP code andanalog front-ends (AFEs) that do not lend themselves to implementationas VNEs 330, 332 or 334. These network elements can be included intransport layer 350. It is understood that in at least some embodiments,the wireless access 120 may be adapted to include a low-power MIMO radio238 having an OOK transmitter, and/or an OOK receiver and/or an OOKtransceiver according to the low-power, low-complexity radios andrelated devices disclosed herein.

The virtualized network function cloud 325 interfaces with the transportlayer 350 to provide the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc., to provide specificNFVs. In particular, the virtualized network function cloud 325leverages cloud operations, applications, and architectures to supportnetworking workloads. The virtualized network elements 330, 332 and 334can employ network function software that provides either a one-for-onemapping of traditional network element function or alternately somecombination of network functions designed for cloud computing. Forexample, VNEs 330, 332 and 334 can include route reflectors, domain namesystem (DNS) servers, and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)servers, system architecture evolution (SAE) and/or mobility managemententity (MME) gateways, broadband network gateways, IP edge routers forIP-VPN, Ethernet and other services, load balancers, distributers andother network elements. Because these elements don't typically need toforward large amounts of traffic, their workload can be distributedacross a number of servers—each of which adds a portion of thecapability, and overall which creates an elastic function with higheravailability than its former monolithic version. These virtual networkelements 330, 332, 334, etc., can be instantiated and managed using anorchestration approach similar to those used in cloud compute services.

The cloud computing environments 375 can interface with the virtualizednetwork function cloud 325 via APIs that expose functional capabilitiesof the VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc., to provide the flexible and expandedcapabilities to the virtualized network function cloud 325. Inparticular, network workloads may have applications distributed acrossthe virtualized network function cloud 325 and cloud computingenvironment 375 and in the commercial cloud, or might simply orchestrateworkloads supported entirely in NFV infrastructure from these thirdparty locations.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputing environment in accordance with various aspects describedherein. In order to provide additional context for various embodimentsof the embodiments described herein, FIG. 4 and the following discussionare intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitablecomputing environment 400 in which the various embodiments of thesubject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computingenvironment 400 can be used in the implementation of network elements150, 152, 154, 156, access terminal 112, base station or access point122, switching device 132, media terminal 142, and/or VNEs 330, 332,334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented viacomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combinationof hardware and software. For example, computing environment 400 canfacilitate in whole or in part receiving, by a first radio module at afirst location, a wireless MIMO signal, to obtain a first received RFsignal. The wireless MIMO signal includes information originating at aremote MIMO transmitter and conveyed via a wireless channel. An envelopeof the first received RF signal is detected by the first radio modulewithout requiring a local oscillator, to obtain a first detectedbaseband signal. The first detected baseband signal is compared to areference value to obtain a first digital signal that is provided to adigital processor. The digital processor also obtains a second digitalsignal from a second radio module receiving the wireless MIMO signal ata second location and determines an estimate of the informationoriginating at the remote MIMO transmitter according to the first andsecond digital signals.

Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, comprising single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

As used herein, a processing circuit includes one or more processors aswell as other application specific circuits such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit, digital logic circuit, state machine,programmable gate array or other circuit that processes input signals ordata and that produces output signals or data in response thereto. Itshould be noted that while any functions and features described hereinin association with the operation of a processor could likewise beperformed by a processing circuit.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically comprise a variety of media, which cancomprise computer-readable storage media and/or communications media,which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and comprises both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured dataor unstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can comprise, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devicesor other tangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to storedesired information. In this regard, the terms “tangible” or“non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries, or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and comprises any informationdelivery or transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signalsrefers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set orchanged in such a manner as to encode information in one or moresignals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediacomprise wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 4, the example environment can comprise acomputer 402, the computer 402 comprising a processing unit 404, asystem memory 406 and a system bus 408. The system bus 408 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 406to the processing unit 404. The processing unit 404 can be any ofvarious commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors andother multiprocessor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 404.

The system bus 408 can be any of several types of bus structure that canfurther interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 406comprises ROM 410 and RAM 412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) can bestored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within the computer 402,such as during startup. The RAM 412 can also comprise a high-speed RAMsuch as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 402 further comprises an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 414(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal HDD 414 can also be configured forexternal use in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 416, (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette418) and an optical disk drive 420, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk 422 or,to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as theDVD). The HDD 414, magnetic FDD 416 and optical disk drive 420 can beconnected to the system bus 408 by a hard disk drive interface 424, amagnetic disk drive interface 426 and an optical drive interface 428,respectively. The hard disk drive interface 424 for external driveimplementations comprises at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus(USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394interface technologies. Other external drive connection technologies arewithin contemplation of the embodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 402, the drives and storagemedia accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable storage media above refersto a hard disk drive (HDD), a removable magnetic diskette, and aremovable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other types of storage media which arereadable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, cartridges, and the like, can also be used in the exampleoperating environment, and further, that any such storage media cancontain computer-executable instructions for performing the methodsdescribed herein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 412,comprising an operating system 430, one or more application programs432, other program modules 434 and program data 436. All or portions ofthe operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 412. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 440. Other input devices (not shown)can comprise a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick,a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen or the like. These and otherinput devices are often connected to the processing unit 404 through aninput device interface 442 that can be coupled to the system bus 408,but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, anIEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB) port,an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 444 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 446. Itwill also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, a monitor 444can also be any display device (e.g., another computer having a display,a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc.) for receiving displayinformation associated with computer 402 via any communication means,including via the Internet and cloud-based networks. In addition to themonitor 444, a computer typically comprises other peripheral outputdevices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 402 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 448. The remotecomputer(s) 448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallycomprises many or all of the elements described relative to the computer402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a remote memory/storagedevice 450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted comprisewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 452 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 454. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 402 can beconnected to the LAN 452 through a wired and/or wireless communicationnetwork interface or adapter 456. The adapter 456 can facilitate wiredor wireless communication to the LAN 452, which can also comprise awireless AP disposed thereon for communicating with the adapter 456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 402 can comprisea modem 458 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN454 or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 454,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 458, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 408 via the input device interface 442. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 402 or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 450. It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are example and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers can beused.

The computer 402 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, restroom), and telephone. This can comprise WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bedin a hotel room or a conference room at work, without wires. Wi-Fi is awireless technology similar to that used in a cell phone that enablessuch devices, e.g., computers, to send and receive data indoors and out;anywhere within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, ag, etc.) to providesecure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can beused to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wirednetworks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operatein the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands for example or with productsthat contain both bands (dual band), so the networks can providereal-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernetnetworks used in many offices.

Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 500 of a mobile network platform510 is shown that is an example of network elements 150, 152, 154, 156,and/or VNEs 330, 332, 334, etc. For example, platform 510 can facilitatein whole or in part receiving, by a first radio module at a firstlocation, a wireless MIMO signal, to obtain a first received RF signal.The wireless MIMO signal includes information originating at a remoteMIMO transmitter and conveyed via a wireless channel. An envelope of thefirst received RF signal is detected by the first radio module withoutrequiring a local oscillator, to obtain a first detected basebandsignal. The first detected baseband signal is compared to a referencevalue to obtain a first digital signal that is provided to a digitalprocessor. The digital processor also obtains a second digital signalfrom a second radio module receiving the wireless MIMO signal at asecond location and determines an estimate of the informationoriginating at the remote MIMO transmitter according to the first andsecond digital signals. In one or more embodiments, the mobile networkplatform 510 can generate and receive signals transmitted and receivedby base stations or access points such as base station or access point122. Generally, mobile network platform 510 can comprise components,e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, thatfacilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP),frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS)traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation fornetworked wireless telecommunication. As a non-limiting example, mobilenetwork platform 510 can be included in telecommunications carriernetworks, and can be considered carrier-side components as discussedelsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 510 comprises CS gatewaynode(s) 512 which can interface CS traffic received from legacy networkslike telephony network(s) 540 (e.g., public switched telephone network(PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7(SS7) network 560. CS gateway node(s) 512 can authorize and authenticatetraffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks. Additionally, CSgateway node(s) 512 can access mobility, or roaming, data generatedthrough SS7 network 560; for instance, mobility data stored in a visitedlocation register (VLR), which can reside in memory 530. Moreover, CSgateway node(s) 512 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PSgateway node(s) 518. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gatewaynode(s) 512 can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS supportnode(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specificoperation of CS gateway node(s) 512, PS gateway node(s) 518, and servingnode(s) 516, is provided and dictated by radio technology(ies) utilizedby mobile network platform 510 for telecommunication over a radio accessnetwork 520 with other devices, such as a radiotelephone 575.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 518 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions cancomprise traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to themobile network platform 510, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 550,enterprise network(s) 570, and service network(s) 580, which can beembodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced withmobile network platform 510 through PS gateway node(s) 518. It is to benoted that WANs 550 and enterprise network(s) 570 can embody, at leastin part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) orradio access network 520, PS gateway node(s) 518 can generate packetdata protocol contexts when a data session is established; other datastructures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can begenerated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 518 cancomprise a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetizedcommunication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Finetworks.

In embodiment 500, mobile network platform 510 also comprises servingnode(s) 516 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) in the radio access network 520, convey thevarious packetized flows of data streams received through PS gatewaynode(s) 518. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) that relyprimarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver trafficwithout reliance on PS gateway node(s) 518; for example, server node(s)can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, ina 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 516 can be embodied in serving GPRSsupport node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s)514 in mobile network platform 510 can execute numerous applicationsthat can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows,and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format . . . ) such flows. Suchapplication(s) can comprise add-on features to standard services (forexample, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided bymobile network platform 510. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that arepart of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 518 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 516 for communication thereafter. Inaddition to application server, server(s) 514 can comprise utilityserver(s), a utility server can comprise a provisioning server, anoperations and maintenance server, a security server that can implementat least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as othersecurity mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s)secure communication served through mobile network platform 510 toensure network's operation and data integrity in addition toauthorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 512and PS gateway node(s) 518 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s)can provision services from external network(s) like networks operatedby a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 550 or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s)can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobilenetwork platform 510 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same serviceprovider), such as the distributed antennas networks shown in FIG. 1(s)that enhance wireless service coverage by providing more networkcoverage.

In at least some embodiments, the base station or access RAN 520 may beadapted to include a low-power MIMO radio 582 having an OOK transmitter,and/or an OOK receiver and/or an OOK transceiver according to thelow-power, low-complexity radios and related devices disclosed herein.Likewise, in at least some embodiments, the mobile device 575 may beadapted to include a low-power MIMO radio 583 having an OOK transmitter,and/or an OOK receiver and/or an OOK transceiver according to thelow-power, low-complexity radios and related devices disclosed herein.

It is to be noted that server(s) 514 can comprise one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of mobilenetwork platform 510. To that end, the one or more processor can executecode instructions stored in memory 530, for example. It should beappreciated that server(s) 514 can comprise a content manager, whichoperates in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

In example embodiment 500, memory 530 can store information related tooperation of mobile network platform 510. Other operational informationcan comprise provisioning information of mobile devices served throughmobile network platform 510, subscriber databases; applicationintelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rateprograms, couponing campaigns; technical specification(s) consistentwith telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, orwireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 530 can also storeinformation from at least one of telephony network(s) 540, WAN 550, SS7network 560, or enterprise network(s) 570. In an aspect, memory 530 canbe, for example, accessed as part of a data store component or as aremotely connected memory store.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 5, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented.While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Generally, program modules comprise routines,programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particulartasks and/or implement particular abstract data types.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative embodiment of a communicationdevice 600 is shown. The communication device 600 can serve as anillustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals 114, mobiledevices 124, vehicle 126, display devices 144 or other client devicesfor communication via either communications network 125. For example,computing device 600 can facilitate in whole or in part receiving, by afirst radio module at a first location, a wireless MIMO signal, toobtain a first received RF signal. The wireless MIMO signal includesinformation originating at a remote MIMO transmitter and conveyed via awireless channel. An envelope of the first received RF signal isdetected by the first radio module without requiring a local oscillator,to obtain a first detected baseband signal. The first detected basebandsignal is compared to a reference value to obtain a first digital signalthat is provided to a digital processor. The digital processor alsoobtains a second digital signal from a second radio module receiving thewireless MIMO signal at a second location and determines an estimate ofthe information originating at the remote MIMO transmitter according tothe first and second digital signals.

The communication device 600 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 602 (herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, apower supply 614, a location receiver 616, a motion sensor 618, anorientation sensor 620, and a controller 606 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 602 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 608 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 604 can further include a display610 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 600. In anembodiment where the display 610 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 608 can be presented by way of the display 610 withnavigation features.

The display 610 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 600 can be adapted to present a user interfacehaving graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by auser with a touch of a finger. The display 610 can be equipped withcapacitive, resistive, or other forms of sensing technology to detecthow much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on a portion ofthe touch screen display. This sensing information can be used tocontrol the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functions of theuser interface. The display 610 can be an integral part of the housingassembly of the communication device 600 or an independent devicecommunicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (suchas a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high-volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 612 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 612 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI604 can further include an image sensor 613 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 600 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable communications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 616 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 600 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 618can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 600 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 620 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device600 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 600 can use the transceiver 602 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 606 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 600. In at leastsome embodiments, the transceiver 602 may be adapted to include alow-power MIMO radio 683 having an OOK transmitter, and/or an OOKreceiver and/or an OOK transceiver according to the low-power,low-complexity radios and related devices disclosed herein.

Other components not shown in FIG. 6 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 600 can include a slot for adding or removing an identity modulesuch as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or Universal IntegratedCircuit Card (UICC). SIM or UICC cards can be used for identifyingsubscriber services, executing programs, storing subscriber data, and soon.

Although the example embodiments disclosed herein are directed to MIMOapplications, it is understood that the disclosed techniques may beapplied, without limitation, to other applications. For example, whereasMIMO systems may use multiple transmitters, it is understood that thereceiver systems, devices, and/or techniques disclosed herein may beused to receive and/or otherwise process RF signals from a singletransmitter. Likewise, the receiver systems, devices, and/or techniquesdisclosed herein may be used to receive and/or otherwise process RFsignals from a multiple different transmitters, not necessarily within aMIMO context. It is conceivable that the receiver systems, devices,and/or techniques disclosed herein may be used to process RF signalsreceived from remote transmitters and/or RF signals received from anearby, or even collocated transmitter. The RF signals may be signalsreceived via line of sight and/or signals received by way of one or morereflections, e.g., vial multipath and/or echo return as in a RADARapplication.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in theclaims, unless otherwise clear by context, is for clarity only and doesnot otherwise indicate or imply any order in time. For instance, “afirst determination,” “a second determination,” and “a thirddetermination,” does not indicate or imply that the first determinationis to be made before the second determination, or vice versa, etc.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “datastore,” data storage,” “database,” and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciatedthat the memory components described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can comprise both volatile andnonvolatile memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, disk storage, and memory storage. Further,nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory cancomprise random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cachememory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available inmany forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methodsherein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising,these and any other suitable types of memory.

Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter can bepracticed with other computer system configurations, comprisingsingle-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computingdevices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-heldcomputing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, smartphone, watch, tabletcomputers, netbook computers, etc.), microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like. Theillustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network; however, some if not allaspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced on stand-alonecomputers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules canbe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

In one or more embodiments, information regarding use of services can begenerated including services being accessed, media consumption history,user preferences, and so forth. This information can be obtained byvarious methods including user input, detecting types of communications(e.g., video content vs. audio content), analysis of content streams,sampling, and so forth. The generating, obtaining and/or monitoring ofthis information can be responsive to an authorization provided by theuser. In one or more embodiments, an analysis of data can be subject toauthorization from user(s) associated with the data, such as an opt-in,an opt-out, acknowledgement requirements, notifications, selectiveauthorization based on types of data, and so forth.

Some of the embodiments described herein can also employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The embodiments (e.g., in connection withautomatically identifying acquired cell sites that provide a maximumvalue/benefit after addition to an existing communication network) canemploy various AI-based schemes for carrying out various embodimentsthereof. Moreover, the classifier can be employed to determine a rankingor priority of each cell site of the acquired network. A classifier is afunction that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, . . . ,xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, that is,f(x)=confidence (class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determine or infer an action that a user desiresto be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is anexample of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates byfinding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which thehypersurface attempts to split the triggering criteria from thenon-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachescomprise, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statisticalregression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments canemploy classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generictraining data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing UEbehavior, operator preferences, historical information, receivingextrinsic information). For example, SVMs can be configured via alearning or training phase within a classifier constructor and featureselection module. Thus, the classifier(s) can be used to automaticallylearn and perform a number of functions, including but not limited todetermining according to predetermined criteria which of the acquiredcell sites will benefit a maximum number of subscribers and/or which ofthe acquired cell sites will add minimum value to the existingcommunication network coverage, etc.

As used in some contexts in this application, in some embodiments, theterms “component,” “system” and the like are intended to refer to, orcomprise, a computer-related entity or an entity related to anoperational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, whereinthe entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. As an example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution,computer-executable instructions, a program, and/or a computer. By wayof illustration and not limitation, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components mayreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component maybe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In addition, these components can execute from variouscomputer readable media having various data structures stored thereon.The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such asin accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., datafrom one component interacting with another component in a local system,distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet withother systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be anapparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical partsoperated by electric or electronic circuitry, which is operated by asoftware or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein theprocessor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes atleast a part of the software or firmware application. As yet anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus that provides specificfunctionality through electronic components without mechanical parts,the electronic components can comprise a processor therein to executesoftware or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality ofthe electronic components. While various components have beenillustrated as separate components, it will be appreciated that multiplecomponents can be implemented as a single component, or a singlecomponent can be implemented as multiple components, without departingfrom example embodiments.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device or computer-readable storage/communicationsmedia. For example, computer readable storage media can include, but arenot limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk,magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disk (DVD)), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g.,card, stick, key drive). Of course, those skilled in the art willrecognize many modifications can be made to this configuration withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

In addition, the words “example” and “exemplary” are used herein to meanserving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or designdescribed herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments ordesigns. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended topresent concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, theterm “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive“or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “Xemploys A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusivepermutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both Aand B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoinginstances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication and the appended claims should generally be construed tomean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context tobe directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms such as “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice” (and/or terms representing similar terminology) can refer to awireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wirelesscommunication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video,sound, gaming or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. Theforegoing terms are utilized interchangeably herein and with referenceto the related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer” andthe like are employed interchangeably throughout, unless contextwarrants particular distinctions among the terms. It should beappreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automatedcomponents supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacityto make inference based, at least, on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

As employed herein, the term “processor” can refer to substantially anycomputing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited tocomprising, single-core processors; single-processors with softwaremultithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-coreprocessors with software multithread execution capability; multi-coreprocessors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; andparallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, aprocessor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), acomplex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistorlogic, discrete hardware components or any combination thereof designedto perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploitnano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular andquantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimizespace usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor canalso be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

As used herein, terms such as “data storage,” data storage,” “database,”and substantially any other information storage component relevant tooperation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

What has been described above includes mere examples of variousembodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing these examples, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentembodiments are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and/orclaimed herein are intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates thebeginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by otheractivities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indicationreflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/ormay be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further,while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, otherorderings are likewise possible provided that the principles ofcausality are maintained.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupledto”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/orindirect coupling between items via one or more intervening items. Suchitems and intervening items include, but are not limited to, junctions,communication paths, components, circuit elements, circuits, functionalblocks, and/or devices. As an example of indirect coupling, a signalconveyed from a first item to a second item may be modified by one ormore intervening items by modifying the form, nature or format ofinformation in a signal, while one or more elements of the informationin the signal are nevertheless conveyed in a manner than can berecognized by the second item. In a further example of indirectcoupling, an action in a first item can cause a reaction on the seconditem, as a result of actions and/or reactions in one or more interveningitems.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A receiver device, comprising: an antenna elementcomprising an antenna terminal, wherein the antenna element is adaptedto provide a received radio frequency (RF) signal at the antennaterminal responsive to illumination of the antenna element by aspatially diverse RF signal transmitted from a multiple input multipleoutput (MIMO) transmitter operating within a millimeter wave spectrum,wherein a baseband signal is impressed upon the spatially diverse RFsignal by the MIMO transmitter according to amplitude modulation; anon-linear energy detector communicatively coupled to the antennaterminal, wherein the non-linear energy detector is adapted to detectthe baseband signal directly from the received RF signal without using alocal oscillator; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)communicatively coupled to the antenna terminal, wherein the ADC isadapted to generate a digital signal according to the detected basebandsignal.
 2. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the non-linear energydetector comprises a current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve, thedetected baseband signal determined according to the I-V characteristiccurve.
 3. The receiver device of claim 2, wherein the non-linear energydetector comprises a diode.
 4. The receiver device of claim 1, whereinthe ADC comprises a comparator adapted to compare the detected basebandsignal to a reference value to obtain a comparison result, and whereinthe digital signal is obtained according to the comparison result. 5.The receiver device of claim 4, wherein the reference value comprises athreshold voltage, the digital signal being obtained according to acomparison of the detected baseband signal.
 6. The receiver device ofclaim 1, wherein the receiver device is a passive device operatingwithout requiring energy beyond that obtained via the illumination ofthe antenna element by the spatially diverse RF signal.
 7. The receiverdevice of claim 1, further comprising a low noise amplifier (LNA)communicatively coupled between the antenna terminal and the non-linearenergy detector, wherein the LNA is operated in saturation.
 8. Thereceiver device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna couplercommunicatively coupled between the antenna terminal and the non-linearenergy detector.
 9. The receiver device of claim 8, wherein the antennacoupler is adapted to prevent coupling of direct current (DC) energybetween the antenna terminal and the non-linear energy detector.
 10. Amultiple input multiple output (MIMO) radio, comprising: a plurality ofradio modules, each adapted to provide a respective 1-bit output signalresponsive to a wireless MIMO signal received by the plurality of radiomodules via a wireless channel, each radio module comprising: arespective antenna element comprising a respective antenna terminal,wherein the respective antenna element is adapted to provide arespective received RF signal at the respective antenna terminalresponsive to the wireless MIMO signal received via the wirelesschannel; a respective envelope detector communicatively coupled to therespective antenna terminal, wherein the respective envelope detector isadapted to detect information modulated onto the wireless MIMO signalprior to transmission via the wireless channel, to obtain a respectivedetected baseband signal; and a respective analog-to-digital converter(ADC) communicatively coupled to the respective envelope detector,wherein the respective ADC is adapted to generate a respective digitalsignal according to the respective detected baseband signal; and adigital processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of radiomodules and adapted to determine an estimate of the informationmodulated onto the wireless MIMO signal prior to transmission accordingto the respective digital signal of each of the plurality of radiomodules.
 11. The MIMO radio of claim 10, wherein a dimension of therespective envelope detector and the respective ADC is no larger than amaximum dimension of the respective antenna element, such that a size ofeach radio module is determined according to the maximum dimension ofthe respective antenna element.
 12. The MIMO radio of claim 10, whereinthe respective envelope detector comprises a semiconductor junctionconfigured to detect the information modulated onto the wireless MIMOsignal when operating in a nonlinear region.
 13. The MIMO radio of claim10, wherein each radio module further comprises a respective low noiseamplifier (LNA) configured to operate in a nonlinear region.
 14. TheMIMO radio of claim 13, wherein each respective LNA is configured tooperate in saturation.
 15. A method, comprising: receiving, by a firstradio module and at a first location, a wireless multiple input multipleoutput (MIMO) signal, to obtain a first received radio frequency (RF)signal, the wireless MIMO signal comprising information originating at aremote MIMO transmitter and conveyed to the first radio module via awireless channel; detecting, by the first radio module and withoutrequiring a local oscillator, an envelope of the first received RFsignal to obtain a first detected baseband signal; comparing, by thefirst radio module, the first detected baseband signal to a referencevalue to obtain a first digital signal according to the first detectedbaseband signal; and providing, by the first radio module, the firstdigital signal to a digital processor, the digital processor alsoobtaining a second digital signal from a second radio module receivingthe wireless MIMO signal at a second location, the digital processordetermining an estimate of the information originating at the remoteMIMO transmitter according to the first and second digital signals. 16.The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting of the envelope of thefirst received RF signal further comprises rectifying, via asemiconductor junction, the first received RF signal.
 17. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising conditioning, by the first radio module,the first detected baseband signal to obtain a first conditionedbaseband signal.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the estimate of theinformation originating at the remote MIMO transmitter is based on acombination of the first digital signal and the second digital signal.19. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless MIMO signal comprises acarrier wave component operating in a millimeter wave spectrum.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the first received RF signal comprises anamplitude modulated signal according to the information impressed uponthe carrier wave component according to on-off-keying applied by theremote MIMO transmitter.